Is Mushroom Leather The Future Of Sustainable Fashion?

Mushroom leather is made from mycelium, the vegetative part of fungus that’s been used since the late 20th century by artists and scientists, who grew it for design and medicinal purposes. While PVC and polyurethane leather have been widely used as a cruelty-free alternative for the last decade, including in luxury fashion, the material has been rejected by some for its environmental impact: pleather production releases harmful toxins because of its plastic component; requires high amounts of water, energy, and chemicals to make; and doesn’t biodegrade at the end of its life cycle, which means it will fester in the landfill long after it’s been ditched. Since then, naturally-derived alternatives, including mushroom and cactus leather, have entered the conversation. In addition to Stella McCartney, biotechnology companies like MycoWorks and Bolt Threads have partnered with brands like Hermès, Lululemon, and Adidas on mycelium collections in the last year alone.